The sneaker culture owes a lot to Jordan. Every sneakerhead around the world has Jordans on their shelf and showcases them with pride. However, there have been some drops that ended up creating chaos, and authorities eventually had to intervene. One such release was the Air Jordan 11 Concord.

Michael Jordan‘s collaboration with Nike back in 1984 would go on to dominate the market like this, not many would’ve imagined in their wildest dreams. Decades later, an entire cultural conversation has developed around these shoes.  Let’s look at what transpired 12 years ago on Christmas Eve when the Concorde hit the stores.

The havoc after the Jordan 11 release

Air Jordan boasts several timeless kicks, and Jordan 11 is among the pantheon of timeless sneaker classics. The Concord was designed to be worn with tuxedos and that made the shoes even more special. It is still regarded as one of the most hyped shoes under the brand. The cultural significance comes from the fact that MJ wore them during the 1995-96 season, the record-breaking season when the Chicago Bulls went on a rampage in the league, ending the season with a 72-10 record. So for fans to get their hands on that classic was, in some cases, of utmost importance.

When the shoes were re-released for $175 a piece, people rushed to the stores which caused a fair share of chaos. As a result, there were several reported cases of violence around the country. The impact of the incident was such that Nike released a statement for the public, “We are extremely concerned to hear of the reported crowd incidents around the launch of the Air Jordan XI at some select retail locations. Consumer safety and security is of paramount importance. We encourage anyone wishing to purchase our product to do so in a respectful and safe manner”.

To this day, it is difficult to understand what caused such a rush throughout the country. Whether it was the fact that Boyz II Men wore them, or perhaps, it might be the black patent leather that many claimed looked damn good on those sneakers.

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Whatever the reason might’ve been, what transpired in the country in 2011 on the release, is still remembered. Although people’s dedication to a pair of shoes takes center stage while discussing the event, the absolute chaos, unfortunate violence, and arrests leave a sour taste.

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